Illinois Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne attracted a less than stellar group of three-year-olds who are hoping to punch their ticket to the
Kentucky Derby (G1). With no outstanding entrant, the nine-furlong event is wide
open and should offer good odds value.

GREELEY’S GALAXY (Mr. Greeley) broke his maiden in front-running fashion
going six furlongs in the slop and then returned to impressively win his
two-turn debut at Santa Anita. In his most recent outing, he pressed the leader
from the outside through slow fractions while in hand, then drew off when given
the signal to a four-length victory, running his final sixteenth of the 1
1/16-mile allowance in six seconds. Greeley’s Galaxy is nicely drawn on the
fence for a ground-saving trip and rates our top choice.

MONARCH LANE (Maria’s Mon) is trained by the ever-dangerous Todd Pletcher,
who won the Lane’s End S. (G2) with the lightly raced Flower Alley (Distorted Humor).
Like that one, Monarch Lane will be making his third career start and two-turn
debut. After breaking his maiden impressively, Monarch Lane battled for the lead
turning for home before finishing third to Sun King (Charismatic) and
Survivalist (Danzig) in a one-mile allowance at Gulfstream Park. He is dangerous
for all the money.

MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) stalked from the outside before finishing an
even fourth over a muddy track in the nine-furlong Lane’s End at Turfway
Park last out. The Pat Byrne trainee previously captured the 1 1/16-mile John Battaglia Memorial S. by 3 3/4 lengths over a fast track at Turfway. The dark
bay colt is a seasoned stakes performer who looms a threat.

KANSAS CITY BOY (Boston Harbor) finished a close third in the LeComte S. (G3)
at Fair Grounds and a close second in the nine-furlong Holy Bull S. (G3) at
Gulfstream Park before running a dull seventh in the Louisiana Derby (G2) last
out. The Kenny McPeek trainee should factor for a share with a return to form,
but our concern is his far outside post.

The speedy DADDY JOE (Unbridled’s Song) looked home free in the 1 1/16-mile
Rushaway S. on the Lane’s End undercard before finishing second by one-half
length. The Jennifer Pedersen-trained colt could factor for a share at juicy
odds. UNBRIDLED ENERGY (Unbridled’s Song) exits a deceptively nice victory going
7 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He rates our upset special under Shaun
Bridgmohan.

The Bill Mott-trained RIKMAN (Storm Creek) figures to duke it out on the
front end but will get tested for class in this spot. He has the look of an
underlay at 5-1 on the morning line. MEDIGATING (Fr) (Dolphin Street) is the
lone foreign-bred entrant who exits a decent, but non-threatening fourth to Sun
King in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He would need significant improvement to
factor. Illinois-bred stakes winner WIN ME OVER (Friendly Lover) is the only
horse in the field who has competed over this surface. He’s hard to recommend,
though.